To avoid missing out on the Big Ten tournament, the Gophers men’s basketball team will likely need to beat Penn State once, if not twice, in February.
The positive upswing that came with Minnesota’s three-game winning streak did an about face after an expected defeat at then-No. 7 and first-place Michigan State last Tuesday was followed by the letdown loss to last-place Washington at home on Saturday.
Penn State (13-8) and Minnesota (11-11) have identical 3-8 conference records going into the 6 p.m. tipoff Tuesday at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa.
“In a game like this, where it’s on the road, both teams are just hungry for a win,” Gophers head coach Ben Johnson said. “The details are going to matter that much more, but it’s also just having that positive competitive mentality that can be a separator on the road.”
On Monday, Johnson pointed to defensive mistakes at the end of the first half of the 71-68 loss to Washington. The U trailed 34-30 before the Huskies made two 3-pointers in the final 100 seconds.
“It’s continuing to show those breakdowns that add up,” Johnson said. “We are just not built to overcome a ton of them.”
The Nittany Lions will come to Williams Arena on Feb. 22, likely with a Big Ten tournament berth on the line. The teams that finish Nos. 16-18 in the league standings won’t make the postseason tournament in Indianapolis. Washington is 2-8 in league play, while Northwestern also is 3-8.
Fox hurting
Parker Fox played only seven minutes against Washington because of a back injury on top of his long-term knee issues. He reached for his back after one offensive play at The Barn on Saturday and received treatment on the bench.
Johnson limited Fox in practices on Sunday and Monday but said Fox should be able to play against the Nittany Lions.
“He’s been battling though his body all year,” the coach said.
Johnson liked the energy and physicality that Frank Mitchell brought against the Huskies with six points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 23 minutes. Perhaps Mitchell replaces Fox in the starting lineup on Tuesday.
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